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Earlier this year David Cameron announced the UK as “the whiplash capital of Europe” and vowed to tackle the rise in whiplash claims. With statistics indicating a discrepancy between the amount of road traffic accident injuries and road traffic accident compensation claims whiplash has now become representative of “dodgy PI claims” in our collective consciousness,…

Justice Minister Helen Grant MP announced this week that the Government is to consult on reforming claims for mesothelioma. In a written ministerial statement to MPs, Ms Grant said that the consultation will take place in spring 2013, and will focus on ‘introducing fixed legal fees for mesothelioma claims; a dedicated pre-action protocol for those…

Injuries inflicted with needles and other sharp instruments in the healthcare sector could be avoided if regulatory loopholes were closed, campaigners said today. In response to a consultation, the not-for-profit Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has called on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) not to water down but to implement in full a…

Wednesday 12 December 2012 by John Hyde The government’s whiplash reforms are an attack on access to justice, the legal profession and genuine victims, according to shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter. Slaughter (pictured) accused the government, which unveiled its proposals on Tuesday, of ignoring root causes of problems with personal injury claims, such as cold…

The government have recently made a U-turn on their plans to introduce the Supplementary Legal Aid Scheme which would have taken 25% of damages awarded for clinical negligence off victims. The original concept was controversial to say the least, and the back down has been welcomed by a host of legal professionals and organisations. The…

If you feel ongoing emotional stresses and disorder, it could be a psychological injury It is different to an upsetting event, it must be a persistent disorder Employers have a duty of care to every employee What does psychological injury mean? A psychological injury, also called a psychiatric injury, doesn’t mean having a distressing…

The Injury Care Clinic Service (TICCS) was established in 1996 and is now one of the largest independent organisations providing rehabilitation, triage and treatment services in the UK. It is used frequently by solicitors and lawyers in the UK personal injury claim sector and provides comprehensive advice and treatment for patients, solicitors, employers and the…

Let’s work together to help genuine whiplash victims As a Solicitor committed to helping people with genuine injuries, I worry that the public perception of whiplash claims means injured people are resented for, and discouraged from, making claims, while the real problem of fraud is overlooked. The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has a…

Access to bank details is often the ultimate aim Recent prosecutions are a positive sign for the future SMS spam increased 300% in a year We’ve all received them. Those messages promising thousands of pounds in compensation for that accident you don’t remember having or that unclaimed PPI compensation which you’re apparently entitled…

The Whiplash Report 2012 New evidence about whiplash claims was launched by Association of Personal Injury Lawyers in Parliament today. The Whiplash Report 2012 dispels common myths about whiplash claims with the aim of clearing the way for sensible debate about the issue, and was presented to MPs and peers at a parliamentary reception hosted…

Compensation is just one aspect of recovering from something as potentially life-changing as a brain or head injury. As much as a lump sum or guaranteed income payment can radically enable an individual, the best recovery is achieved by providing over-arching support for a person in every aspect of their life. Headway are a charity…

The AFCS holds a unique status as compensation schemes go. Parties are awarded compensation through a no-fault scheme and it is entirely separate from any other form of accident cover, so any cover you might already hold no bearing on the compensation you may or may not receive from the AFCS. This article will take…

“Responsible companies should have no problem with mandatory accident reporting” Accident database would cut through “myths and misunderstandings” Affords you a wealth of information and ability to influence current legislation The Current Reporting Situation All employers have a legal responsibility to look after the health and safety of employees and an aspect of…

The stretch of the A57, called the Snake Pass, that cuts across the Pennines between Glossop and Sheffield is considered to be a particularly dangerous stretch of road for its users. For those who travel along the road it provides spectacular views and picturesque scenery but unfortunately also provides dangers for drivers and motorcyclists who…

A NOTTS company has admitted breaching Health and Safety laws after an employee lost an eye on his first day at work. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) brought the charges against Bloom Plant Ltd and Paul Nathan Batty after an employee suffered severe injuries when he was hit by a falling excavator bucket. The…

The Court of Appeal is reopening the appeal in Simmons v Castle 9 in which it confirmed in July that general damages in certain types of civil cases would increase by 10% from 1 April 2013. It seems that the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has made an application to intervene in the case, calling…

Rethink on criminal injuries compensation welcomed A decision by the Government to reconsider the proposals to cut compensation payments for victims of crime has been welcomed by ASD. A committee of MPs which met on Monday was expected to rubberstamp the proposals to end payments below £2,500 and significantly reduce payments below £11,000. But newly…

Increase in General damages of 10% to take affect from 1st April next year The Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls and Lord Justice Maurice Kay, vice-president of the Court of Appeal, this morning announced a ten per cent increase in general damages, a key proposal of the Jackson report, from 1 April…

Even the safest, most experienced drivers can be involved in car accidents. Sometimes these accidents are the fault of the person driving the car, for example, if they crash into a wall or skid off of the road in icy conditions. However, if more than one car is involved in a collision with another vehicle,…